Power-operated automated drying machine featuring a vacuum chamber for removal of moisture from samples to facilitate dry weight, for use in removal of moisture, measuring moisture content and density of field and laboratory compacted asphalt samples, construction materials, loose asphalt mixtures, aggregates, asphalt binders, asphalt emulsion and gyratory samples
4.
Systems and methods for quality testing of asphalt by predicting an indirect tensile strength ratio of the asphalt sample based on the binder loss value
A method for quality testing asphalt includes: directing light from a light source to at least one surface of asphalt; detecting light reflected or refracted from the at least one surface of the asphalt using a light detector; and assigning a number indicating the quality of the asphalt in response to detecting light reflected or refracted from the at least one surface of the asphalt.
G01N 21/25 - ColourSpectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
G01N 1/44 - Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat
G01N 21/27 - ColourSpectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands using photo-electric detection
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
11 - Environmental control apparatus
Goods & Services
Machine tools and instruments for compacting asphalt samples for subsequent use in testing evaluations Measurement related devices, namely, electrical, mechanical, vacuum, nuclear and non-nuclear based devices, instruments and gauges used for calibration and material testing, namely, testing density, moisture content, moisture sensitivity, rutting and cracking resistance determination, color difference, polymer content, and asphalt content of materials used in the construction, raw materials, and manufacturing industries; Gas monitors used for stowaway detection Drying apparatus for compacted asphalt samples for subsequent use in testing evaluations
6.
Systems and methods for verification and calibration of hamburg wheel tracker devices
A load and motion measurement system for use with a Hamburg Wheel Tracker device includes: a housing; at least one load cell held in or by the housing; a load platform held in or by the housing and resting on the at least one load cell; and a controller operatively associated with the at least one load cell. The load and motion measurement system is configured to be received in a sample tray that is held in the Hamburg Wheel Tracker device. The controller is configured to determine operational parameters associated with a wheel of the Hamburg Wheel Tracking device that rolls along the load platform. Vertical displacement measurement calibration and verification systems for use with a Hamburg Wheel Tracker device are also described, as are associated kits and methods.
A system for conducting a maximum specific gravity test includes a sealable container for receiving and holding an asphalt mixture sample, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container for evacuating the container, a valve in fluid communication with the container, a shaker for shaking the container, and a controller. The controller can operate the system in a test mode by: (i) turning on the vacuum pump; (ii) automatically monitoring a vacuum pressure in the container with the vacuum pump on; (iii) automatically turning on the shaker when the monitored vacuum pressure reaches a target vacuum pressure value; (iv) automatically opening or closing the valve such that the monitored vacuum pressure in the container is maintained within a target vacuum pressure range for a predetermined period of time with the shaker on; and (v) automatically turning the shaker off at the end of the predetermined period of time.
G01N 9/36 - Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture
G01N 9/26 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by measuring pressure differences
A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the second port.
F25B 21/02 - Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effectMachines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
F25B 19/00 - Machines, plants or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
G01N 9/02 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by measuring weight of a known volume
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Automatic control units, namely control units in the nature of vacuum manometers and vacuum gauges with automatic vacuum pump controls and timers, for test apparatus used in performing the Maximum Specific Gravity test in accordance with one or more of AASHTO T209 or ASTM D2041 for evaluating uncompacted asphalt samples or mixtures, or AASHTO T283 or ASTM D4867 for saturation of compacted asphalt samples or mixtures, or construction materials; automatic electrical control units for use with vacuums, shakers, temperature sensors, and accelerometers used for removing air from asphalt samples or mixtures or construction materials; automatic electrical control units for controlling and monitoring operations of test apparatus that are used for removing air from asphalt samples or construction materials; and automatic electrical control units for obtaining and storing data and calculating test results from or relating to test apparatus that are used for removing air from asphalt samples or construction materials
10.
Lightweight portable moisture traps for use with vacuum pumps
A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the second port.
F25B 21/02 - Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effectMachines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
F25B 19/00 - Machines, plants or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
G01N 9/02 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by measuring weight of a known volume
11.
Wheel-tracking devices and related systems and methods
A wheel-tracking test device includes a housing, one or more test chambers in the housing, one or more load arm assemblies, and a drive mechanism. Each test chamber is configured to receive and hold one or more asphalt test samples. Each load arm assembly includes a weighted loading arm and a wheel rotatably connected to the loading arm. The drive mechanism is configured to move the load arm assembly from a load position in which the wheel is on a test sample held in the test chamber and a rest position by retracting the loading arm such that the wheel is lifted off the test sample.
A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the second port.
F25B 21/02 - Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effectMachines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
F25B 19/00 - Machines, plants or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
An apparatus and method for determination of susceptibility of asphalt concrete materials to moisture damage. An asphalt sample of known bulk specific gravity (density) is placed inside a chamber filled with water, which is capable of heating the sample to a predetermined temperature. The chamber is pressurized by introduction of air pressure to a flexible membrane that decreases the volume within a chamber containing the sample and water, increasing the pore pressure in the sample. The pressure is then released and allowed to come to ambient pressure. This process is repeated a predetermined number of times (cycles). When a selected number of cycles are complete, the asphalt sample is removed from the chamber and its bulk specific gravity (density) measured again. The difference between the density before and after conditioning is an excellent method of rating the degree at which moisture would deteriorate asphalt samples due to introduction of moisture. The cyclic nature of the increased/decreased pore pressure is observed to significantly decrease bulk specific gravity (density) for poor quality asphalt designs. Furthermore, the sample conditioned by this method can be used for other conventional mechanical test methods, such as tensile strength and modulus determination. Computerized controls are used to automate the procedure and to record and display data from sensors.
G01N 15/08 - Investigating permeability, pore volume, or surface area of porous materials
G01N 9/14 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by observing bodies wholly or partially immersed in fluid materials by observing the depth of immersion of the bodies, e.g. hydrometers the body being built into a container
Power-operated automated drying machine featuring a vacuum chamber for removal of moisture from construction samples to facilitate dry weight, for use in measuring moisture content and density of field and laboratory compacted asphalt samples, construction materials, loose asphalt mixtures and gyratory samples
17.
System and method for conditioning and detection of moisture damage in asphalt mixes
An apparatus and method for determination of susceptibility of asphalt concrete materials to moisture damage. An asphalt sample of known bulk specific gravity (density) is placed inside a chamber filled with water, which is capable of heating the sample to a pre-determined temperature. The chamber is pressurized by introduction of air pressure to a flexible membrane that decreases the volume within a chamber containing the sample and water, increasing the pore pressure in the sample. The pressure is then released and allowed to come to ambient pressure. This process is repeated a predetermined number of times (cycles). When a selected number of cycles are complete, the asphalt sample is removed from the chamber and its bulk specific gravity (density) measured again. The difference between the density before and after conditioning is an excellent method of rating the degree at which moisture would deteriorate asphalt samples due to introduction of moisture. The cyclic nature of the increased/decreased pore pressure is observed to significantly decrease bulk specific gravity (density) for poor quality asphalt designs. Furthermore, the sample conditioned by this method can be used for other conventional mechanical test methods, such as tensile strength and modulus determination. Computerized controls are used to automate the procedure and to record and display data from sensors.
G01N 15/08 - Investigating permeability, pore volume, or surface area of porous materials
G01N 9/14 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materialsAnalysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by observing bodies wholly or partially immersed in fluid materials by observing the depth of immersion of the bodies, e.g. hydrometers the body being built into a container
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Laboratory equipment, namely, vacuum and sealable bag unit used to test material samples for water displacement measurements, the material samples are obtained from field sites and laboratories for analysis, the material samples include compacted bituminous mixtures, soil samples, concrete specimens, compacted asphalt, loose aggregate, loose (non-compacted) asphalt, and the like
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT RELATED DEVICES, NAMELY, (A) NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE CALIBRATION AND VERIFICATION APPARATUS WHICH IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER'S NUCLEAR MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE THAT EMITS NEUTRONS AND/OR PHOTONS TO PROVIDE THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF THE NUCLEAR MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE AND (B) DEVICES USED IN TESTING LABORATORY EVALUATIONS OF MATERIALS PREPARED BY OTHERS FOR USE IN THE RAW MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES, NAMELY, APPARATUS USED TO EVALUATE AND PREPARE FOR EVALUATION COMPACTED CORE MATERIAL SPECIMENS, VACUUM APPARATUS, PREFORMED RESILIENT BAGS AND RELATED DENSITY EQUIPMENT, NAMELY, THOSE APPARATUS USED IN CONTEMPLATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND DENSITY LIQUID DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT TESTS; AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR (A) DETERMINING THE OPERATIONAL STATUS AND/OR CALIBRATION STATUS OF NUCLEAR GAUGES (B) DETERMINING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF MATERIAL SPECIMENS TO STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY ANOTHER INCLUDING ONE OR MORE OF THE DENSITY, SPECIFIC GRAVITY OR THE POROSITY OF COMPACTED MATERIAL SPECIMENS AND (C) OPERATING VACUUM EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES ASSOCIATED WITH SEALING COMPACTED SPECIMENS IN PREPARATION FOR LIQUID DISPLACEMENT TESTS, FOR USE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, RAW MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
